Page 71 of Cruel Secrets

She says nothing, twisting to look in the back seat. Bianca is still quiet, calm in her car seat, completely unaware of what’s happening.

Thank fuck for small miracles.

“Gia, focus.”

The lights of the car behind us are getting bigger. Gia leans forward in her seat, her lips pressed into a thin line. The color is drained from her face, her nails biting into her palms.

“What?” she snaps, seeming more like a wild animal backed into a corner than a woman at the moment.

I point to the glove box. “There’s a gun in there. You need to get ready.”

Gia’s hands shake as she rips open the box, digging through crumpled napkins and the vehicle’s stained and torn apart instruction manual before she finally finds the button for the hidden compartment at the back.

She pulls out the gun, checking the magazine. “Can you see who’s behind us?”

“Not a clue, but you need to be ready. I’m going to slow down enough to let them get closer, and then you’re going to need to shoot out the tires. At least one.”

“Lucky for you, I’m a good shot,” she says, a grim smile on her face as she rolls her window down, cold wind blowing through and chilling the car.

I ease onto the brake just as my phone starts ringing.

Glancing at it, Skyla’s name flashes across the screen. I reach for it as Gia unbuckles herself, prepared to angle herself out the window the moment the car is slow enough.

I don’t have time for this right now.

Grabbing the phone, I slide my phone across the screen and shove it between my ear and my shoulder. “I’m a little busy at the moment. What do you need?”

“Hello to you too, baby brother.” Skyla laughs as the car behind us speeds up.

It’s only going to be another few feet before Gia takes aim.

“You need to hurry up.”

“I’m the one behind you. There’s a truck stop not far ahead. Go there and pull over.” Skyla’s tone is firm, leaving no room for argument.

She ends the call, and I toss the phone to the side, speeding up again.

Trees blur by on either side as the sun sets, bright streaks of pink and orange shooting across the bottom of the sky, making the clouds look like cotton candy.

Up ahead, a small building rises up out of a concrete lot, neon lights shining along the roof of the structure covering the gas pumps.

There are several carts and trucks stationed outside the greasy diner, but none of them look anything like the men I’ve seen working for Noah over the last several months.

Still, I slow as we get closer, passing the first entrance and heading to the second, staring at the people gathered outside and having a smoke between beers.

Gia makes a strangled noise in the back of her throat before turning around and kneeling on her seat the best she can.

As she leans out the window, I grab her by the back of the jacket and haul her back in the car.

“What the hell was that for?” She looks at me over her shoulder, and if looks could kill, I would be six feet deep by now.

“Because I changed my mind.”

Her eyes nearly bulge out of her head. “You changed your mind?”

“Yes. New plan.” I ease the car closer to the entrance, taking a final look at the people gathered. They don’t look like they’re going to pose any threat to us, and if Skyla thinks it’s safe to stop, then we’re going to stop.

Gia nudges me. “Why are we pulling over? Royce, they’re going to get us if we pull over. I won’t have enough time to shoot out the tires.”

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